Archaeologists have unearthed an Iron Age settlement hidden beneath the shrine of one of Norway's most iconic saints – King Olaf II Haraldsson.

Using laser scanning technology, experts have found an even older church and an Iron Age settlement underneath the church in the city of Trondheim in Norway.

Researchers believe that the hidden settlement was a thriving market place around 1,000 years ago.

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Using laser scanning technology, experts have found an even older church and an Iron Age settlement underneath the church in the city of Trondheim in Norway

WHAT DID THEY FIND?

Using laser scanning technology, experts have found an even older church and an Iron Age settlement underneath the church dedicated to King Olaf in the city of Trondheim in Norway.

The Iron Age settlement most likely belonged to a Viking Age 'kaupang', or market place.

The oldest of the two churches is constructed with heavy posts dug down from the upper horizon of the sand.

The site was sealed under thick deposits of natural sand that have been formed by a flooding of the river Nidelva.

The location of the mysterious St Clement's church was unknown until last year when archaeologists from the Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research (NIKU) made the momentous discovery.

In February the team started the second phase of excavations and discovered that there were Iron age settlements hidden below the original shrine where Viking King Olaf Haraldsson was enshrined.

Dr Anna Petersén, leader of the excavation, said: 'We have identified rich remains of an Iron Age settlement on the site, most likely belonging to a Viking Age "kaupang", sealed under thick deposits of natural sand that have been formed by a flooding of the river Nidelva.'

A kaupang is a Norse term for a market place.

'The oldest of the two churches is constructed with heavy posts dug down from the upper horizon of the sand,' Dr Petersén said, according to Fox News.

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'We will soon begin to remove the remains of the upper church and are eager to find more posts and postholes relating to the previous building in the sand,' Dr Petersén explained.

'And as the last of many highlights from this spectacular site we will explore the Viking Age settlement', she said.

Researchers uncovered the wooden foundations of St Clement's church, in which Olaf's body was enshrined after his sainthood in November last year.

Researchers uncovered the wooden foundations of St Clement's church, in which Olaf's body was enshrined after his sainthood in November last year. Pictured is a slab which could be the base of the altar where the king's coffin was laid

As the number of pilgrims - called the cult of Olaf - grew, the saint's body was moved to a larger church and eventually to Trondheim's cathedral, and St Clement's was destroyed and its location lost.

But the team at NIKU believes wooden foundations uncovered in its recent dig date back to the time of Olaf and are likely the site of St Clement's.

They claim a stone found at one end of the former building could be the foundation of the altar on which the Viking king's coffin was lain.

Using laser scanning technology, experts have found an even older church and an Iron Age settlement underneath the 11th century church. Pictured are the remains found at the east of the church, with a skull resting on the foundations

Excavations at the site in Trondheim revealed the stone slab (pictured) in the east of the ruined structure. In February the team started the second phase of excavations and discovered that there was Iron age settlements hidden below the original shrine where Viking King Olaf Haraldsson was enshrined

Olaf II Haraldson was proclaimed a saint after being killed in battle, with his remains coming to rest at a church in the city of Trondheim

Dr Petersén said: 'This is a unique site in Norwegian history in terms of religion, culture and politics.

'Much of the Norwegian national identity has been established on the cult of sainthood surrounding St Olaf, and it was here it all began.'

A number of remains found at the site are believed to have come from a graveyard, established at the church in the centuries that followed Olaf's death.

Evidence suggests that the burial grounds were revered, with graves stacked on top of one another.

Researchers are still trying to ascertain more information about skeletons found at the site and determine when they were buried, but it is thought they were laid to rest many years after the saintly Olaf.

NIKU has produced a 3D model of the site, detailing the position of the structures found and what they could represent.

The site at Trondheim is covered during the excavation last year, with researchers identifying the foundations of the lost church as well as a number of skeletons, possibly from the cult of Olaf

The Viking King ruled Norway in the early 11th century at a difficult time for the Norse, after kingdoms of a fractured Norway were unified and people began to give up the old gods for Christianity.

At the time, King Canute of Denmark had allied with Norwegian noblemen to drive the self-proclaimed King Olaf into exile in Russia.

Medieval historical accounts tell of the King being slain in battle on his return from exile.

Icelandic historian Snorri detailed how Olaf received three wounds, with the killer blow coming from a spear to the chest.

It is thought his body was carried away and buried at Trondheim.

THE VIKING KING WHO BECAME A SAINT

Olaf II Haraldson was the son of King Harald Grenske - who is credited with uniting a fractured Norway.

He allied with the English against the Danes, offering his services to King Ethelred before returning to take the throne of Norway from his father in 1015, reigning until to 1028.

In his time, he battled the Swedes and Danes and is credited with the spread of Christianity in Norway, converting the heathens, but he was forced into exile when Danish forces partnered with Norwegian nobles who revolted against their king.

Historical accounts describe Olaf's return from exile in Russia, on his way to Trondheim with an army of thousands.

But before he could reach his throne his force was attacked north of the city.

Historians believe King Olaf's came under attack from Danish Vikings, allied to King Canute, in the Battle of Stiklestad.

Icelandic historian Snorri detailed how King Olaf received three blows during a battle with Danish vikings loyal to King Canute, with the killer blow coming from a spear to the chest. Pictured is 'King Olaf's Fall'

A number of sources give differing accounts of the saint's death, from being attacked by his own men while he slept, to being caught in an ambush by the enemy.

After his body was brought secretly back to Trondheim, it is believed he was buried in the sandy banks.

When Olaf's coffin was dug up a year later, it is thought that his well-preserved appearance and grown hair and finger nails were miraculous.

He was revered as a saint, by popular acclaim, with a cult of pilgrims visiting his shrine.

The king was finally canonized in 1164, and has become the patron Saint of Norway and a mark of the country's independence.

Written accounts detail the martyred Viking's coffin being dug up to reveal well-preserved remains a year after burial, leading to him being declared a saint.

Snorri wrote that the people of Trondheim witnessed a number of miracles attributed to the dead king's holiness.

After his coffin was opened, accounts tell of the body remaining well preserved with the hair and finger nails growing since death.

Olaf II remains an important historical figure in Norway today, immortalised in the country's coat of arms – where the axe held by the golden lion representing the patron saint.

Evidence suggests that the burial grounds were revered, with graves stacked on top of one another

Coins from the period show the image of King Olaf, who reigned over Norway from 1015 to 1028

Researchers are still trying to ascertain more information about skeletons found at the site and determine when they were buried, but it is thought they were laid to rest many years after the saintly Olaf